Karkloof Spa Selects SoftBrands for Integrated Spa, Food & Beverage and Property Management System Solutions
Minneapolis, MN, 23rd May 2008 – SoftBrands, Inc. (AMEX: SBN), a global supplier of enterprise application software, today announced that Karkloof Spa has selected the SoftBrands Emerald Spa, Emerald Food and Beverage (F&B), Medallion Property Management System (PMS) and @Mail solutions to help manage its luxury spa operations and lodging accommodations. The Karkloof Spa is located in the Karkloof Valley near Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa.
“We considered several systems before deciding on solutions from SoftBrands,” said Garth Roux, general manager, Karkloof Spa. “SoftBrands really stood apart from the competition because of their strong commitment to customer service, which is the cornerstone of our business. We are pleased to have a highly professional and comprehensive system for our spa and, at the same time, meet all our hotel system needs from the same provider.” Karkloof Spa is a newly constructed five-star lodge and spa that will eventually have 24 guest rooms spread between the Karkloof Boutique Hotel with 16 villas and the Karkloof Luxury Tented Camp with eight tents (the property will open in June 2008 with 16 guest rooms). Karkloof Spa is built on environmentally friendly principles, including natural materials, thatched and living roofs, low VOC paints, etc. The spa will offer world class treatments, extensive hydrotherapy facilities and a spa menu that pays tribute to its scenic location.
“I believe our Emerald Spa solution is the most comprehensive spa system available in South Africa,” said Michael Knight, vice president and general manager, SoftBrands Hospitality – Europe and Africa. “Karkloof Spa wanted a solid spa package that could be easily integrated with PMS and F&B solutions to meet all their requirements. SoftBrands is able to deliver all these solutions.”
“This agreement is significant for SoftBrands as we grow our business in South Africa, specifically in the KwaZulu Natal market,” said Bronwynn Furness, business development manager, SoftBrands Hospitality – South Africa. “We recognize the potential to expand SoftBrands’ presence in the local spa market by building strong relationships with spa owners and operators. Customers like Karkloof Spa tell us that our responsiveness and dedication set us apart from the competition.”
Emerald Spa is a complete spa management package that covers all aspects of running a spa business from scheduling the most complex of packages and
managing memberships to planning direct marketing campaigns. Powered by Premier Spa, Emerald Spa can be configured to match individual spa business requirements and provides powerful reports to monitor and manage operations. The software can help spa operators increase the level of service they deliver to spa clients thanks to faster booking and greater accuracy. Emerald Spa offers extensive management information, including detailed analysis by client, room, treatment, time and therapist, as well as marketing features such as gift certificates and loyalty programs – all designed to help increase business and improve profitability.
Medallion PMS offers the ease of use, rich guest data and sophisticated rate controls hoteliers need to help maximize room occupancy and revenue per available room. This user-friendly property management solution helps hotels optimize operational efficiency and deliver exceptional customer service, leading to increased profits. Medallion is a robust, Microsoft Windows-based system that can be customized to meet the specific needs of each property and integrates with leading back-office applications for easy reporting. The system’s intuitive "look-and-book" approach to operations is designed for busy hotel staff with little time for training, so front-office agents can be ready to use the system in just a few hours.
Emerald F&B is a robust food-and-beverage management application, powered by Squirrel, that integrates into SoftBrands PMS’s. This solution helps hotels easily operate every foodservice or profit center on the property, wired or wireless – everything from room service to bars and restaurants, patios and retail stores. SoftBrands’ food-and-beverage management solution seamlessly integrates all front-of-house and back-office functions in an easy-to-use solution.
About Karkloof Spa
Karkloof Spa is a luxury destination spa offering guests a variety of spa services, extensive hydrotherapy facilities, dining and lodging accommodations. The spa features world class treatments using quality products, such as Pevonia, Lillian Terry and SpaRitual. Karkloof Spa is located in the Karkloof Valley, just 20 minutes outside of Pietermaritzburg and near many natural attractions and spectacular scenery, including the 900ha Karkloof Nature Reserve and Karkloof
waterfall. The entire property lies in three valleys: the Karkloof, Umgeni and Umgenyana. Three rivers run through the property along with four waterfalls, mistbelt forest, open plains and dolerite cliffs. Situated on the foothills of the Natal Midlands, Karkloof Spa offers easy access to the Midlands Meander. The 3 Natal Battlefields are accessible as well as wonderful birding, fishing, walks, hot air ballooning and game drives. Additional information will be available at
www.karkloofspa.com (web site under construction).
About SoftBrands Hospitality
SoftBrands Hospitality provides central reservation, property management and business intelligence software that can be centrally managed to support many properties within a hotel chain, as well as less complex offerings that can be installed on site at an independent hotel. SoftBrands distribution service, Karyon, allows hotels to easily manage rates and inventory availability across all four Global Distribution Systems and many other online sources of demand. SoftBrands is committed to the hospitality industry, and is an active member of
OpenTravel Alliance, HTNG, HSMAI, HFTP, HEDNA, AH&LA, AAHOA, NBTA & PHMA.
About SoftBrands
SoftBrands, Inc. is a leader in providing software solutions for businesses in the manufacturing and hospitality industries worldwide. The company has established a global infrastructure for distribution, development and support of enterprise software, and has approximately 5,000 customers in more than 100 countries actively using its manufacturing and hospitality products. SoftBrands, which has approximately 800 employees, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., with branch offices in Europe, India, Asia, Australia and Africa. Additional information can be found at www.softbrands.com.
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Contact Information:
Mehreen Qayum
SoftBrands Marketing Manager, Europe and Africa
+44 (0) 118 935 8892
Mehreen.Qayum@softbrands.com
2008/05/24, Minneapolis, MN